From Santa Maria de Feira, Portugal, site of the latest major meeting of the European Commission, a report on what's ahead.
by John Ross Schroeder
European unity has been gradually developing step-by-step ever since the
fledgling beginnings of the economically based European Coal and Steel Community
in 1957 with six founding countries. Today there are 15 countries in the
European Union (EU) with several more applications for membership being
considered.
The latest major meeting of the European
Commission with the heads of government present was in late June at
Santa Maria de Feira, Portugal, near the city of Porto (home of Port
wine). There major divisions of opinion between Britain and the core
countries of the EU continued to dominate the agenda.
According to The Daily Telegraph, "Germany
and France delivered a blunt warning to [British Prime Minister] Tony
Blair, during sharp exchanges at the EU summit which ended in Portugal
yesterday, that he could not stop the development of a two-speed Europe
that could leave Britain behind."
Although Mr. Blair and his economic chancellor
Gordon Brown secured somewhat of a victory here at Feira in blocking
the introduction of a Europe-wide savings tax, the founding members
(Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) made
it very clear that they were absolutely determined to press ahead with
much closer integration.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
was the most adamant. He said: "But let it be clear that if we are
stopped we will find a way outside the structure of the union." Very
disturbing words! They call to mind a time prior to World War II.
Trend #1: the recent emergence of Berlin's
assertiveness
Germany is now pressing harder than ever for an increased pace of
integration. It wants a renewed drive to persuade the European Union's
15 members to cede more of their sovereignty to Europe. Berlin also desires
a fundamental rewriting of the founding charter, the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
In the German view, no member nation (including Britain) must be allowed
to stand in the way of further progress.
